NICOSIA, July 23 (AFP) - US envoy Laura Kennedy sought clarification here Friday from the Greek Cypriots on what they demanded from a Cyprus settlement after overwhelmingly rejecting a UN reunification plan in April.
Washington has been critical of how the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government of President Tassos Papadopoulos orchestrated the 'no' campaign during the referendum on the plan which won an overwhelming 'yes' from the Turkish Cypriots.
This is the first visit by a United States official since then.
Kennedy, on the divided Mediterranean island for a four-day stay, met Papadopoulos and Foreign Minister George Iacovou on Friday and will hold contacts with Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat on Saturday.
"I have not come with any new initiative," Kennedy told reporters after lengthy talks with Papadopoulos.
She expressed what she termed Washington's "disappointment" over the rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriots, adding: "But certainly we are interested in the views of the president on this matter."
Iacovou said the envoy was seeking clarification of the Greek Cypriot position so a settlement could be reached as soon as possible.
"I explained there needed to be consultations between the political parties, so submitting our proposals would take some time," said Iacovou.
UN chief Kofi Annan has stated he is not prepared to renegotiate his plan and would only consider additional security safeguards. Papadopoulos says he will not accept another vote on the plan "as is".
The north of the island was seized and occupied by Turkish troops in 1974, when Ankara invaded to prevent the island from declaring unification with Greece.